Pusher-ram-changing station



W. L. WILLIAMS JR.

PUSHER RAM CHANGING STATION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. m9.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEH l.

"All". II III W. L. WILLIAMS, 1a..

PUSHER RAM CHANGING STATION. APPLICATION FILED 00T.20.1919.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT-.20 I919- Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 4.

L! in APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2'0, l9l9.

W L WILLlAMS JR PUSHER RAM CHANGING STATION."

W. L. WILLIAMS, JR. P-USHER RAM CHANGING STATIGNA APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, I9I9.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEE'I 6.

\N ww I 61ml Hu s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LAMAR WILLIAMS,' JR., 0]? PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PUSHEB-RAM-GHANGING STATION.

Application filed October 20, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAMAR IL- LIAMS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pusher-Eam-Changing Stations, of which the following is a specification.

In coking plants, particularly those of the by-product type, the pusher machine moves lengthwise of the battery from one coking chamber to another in regular timed sequence to push. out of the coking chambers or ovens the charges of finished coke. This operation is maintained continuously and consequently it is most essential that proper provision be made for the quick and ready removal of aram from the pusher machine and the substitution of another ram, should this be necessary for one reason or another. The essential object of this invention is the provision of a ram receiving and supporting station constructed to permit a quick and easy transfer of a ram from the pusher machine and also a similarly efficient transfer of a ram from the supporting station to the pusher machine.

A further object of the invention is to construct the ram receiving and supporting station so that it is especially adapted to receive directly from the pusher machine, without any interference whatsoever, a ram of the usual type having a head depending below the bottom of the ram body or shank and a similarly depending shoe supported in the rear of said head. The station is provided with a plurality of ram-supporting devices movable from an inoperative position, that is clear of the path of movement of the head of a ram, into an operative position behind the head of said ram for supporting the latter behind its head, whereby the ram may be moved head first from the pusher machine on to the frame of the supporting station and a ram supported by the supporting station may be moved in the opposite direction on to the carriage of a pusher machine, without any interference between the ram supporting devices and the head and shoe of the ram.

The invention also includes amo'ng'its objects an increasing of the efficiency of operation of an apparatus of this character combined with great simplicity in design and construction and such other improvements or advantages in construction and operation Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 31, 1920.

Serial No. 331,959.

ing and supporting station showing a pusher ram supported thereon;

Fig. 3 is a top sectional plan view of the ram receiving and supporting station illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4c is an end view of the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken in a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken in the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the track and its supporting parts of the ram receiving and supporting station;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front end view of a pair of ram-supporting devices;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the trucks illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken in a plane indicatedby the line 11 11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section taken in a plane indicated by the line 1%12 of Fig'll; and

Fig. 13 is a detailed view of a device for attaching a ram-supporting device to the body of the ram.

Fig. M is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the preferred layout of the coke oven battery, the pusher ram machine and the ram receiving and supporting station.

The same characters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The pusher machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings is particularly adapted for use in connection with coke-oven batteries of the by-product type. Such batteries are provided with a plurality of crosswise extending parallel heating walls and elongated coking chambers intermediate them, the heating walls being constituted or" a series of vertical flame fines and parallel therewith. Coal is introduced into the several coking chambers or ovens of the battery and when the charges of coal in the chambers have been subjected to coking heat for the required period of time, the finished coke in these chambers is pushed out by means of the ram mounted on the pusher machine.

As shown in Fig. 1, the pusher machine embodies inits construction a suitable carriage, indicated by dotted lines at 21, and adapted to travel on a tracl-iway 22, which extends lengthwise along the pusher side of a coke-oven battery, indicated by dotted lines at 23. The carriage 21 supports reciprocatory ram 24 having the usual head 25 which enters a coking chamber of the oven battery and is made large enough to engage the end face of a charge of nnished coke in said chamber; the ram 2% is also provided with an elongated main body portion or shank 26 constructed of structural metal and having along its bottom edge a rack 2?. The main body or shank 26 oi? the pusher ram must necessarily be of great length, inasmuch as it is required that the ram be thrust substantially clear through the length of the coking chamber in order to empty the latter completely of its charge of finished coke. Tn oruer to support the ram whentraveling through a coking chamber, the head 25 depends beneath the main body or shank 26 of the pusher ram and is provided with a shoe 28 for engaging the bottom 01" the coking chamber; mounted in the rear of the head 25 is another shoe 29 which also slides on the bottom of the coking chamber. The ram reciprocatcs on its carriage between a pair of upstanding guide frames 30, 31 which are respectively provided with upper and lower guiding rollers 32, 33 engaging the top and bottom of the main lJO y of the ram. Mounted at the rear of the carriage 21 is a bearing bracket in which is journaled a rear guide roller 35 adapted to engage the rear portion of the bottom edge of the ram. The usual power-driven gearing is provided on the carriage 21 for pushing a ram through 'a coking chamber and withdrawing the same, said gearing being indicated at 36 and cooperating with the rack 27 to effect forward and back movement of the ram.

In operation, the pusher ram machine is run on the track 22 to a position in front of the coking chamber filled with a charge of finished coke. The ram is then thrust forward through the coking chamber, after the doors of the latter have been removed, and the charge of finished coke is pushed out of the chamber. The ram is then withdrawn and the pusher machine is moved along its track to the next coking chamber horizontal bars 41.

filled with a charge of coke ready to be pushed. The charges of coke are pushed from the several chambers of a coke ovenbattery in regular timed sequence and it is necessary that the pushing operation be effected as soon as the coking of each charge is completed, because of the great tempe ture within the coking chambers which would effect a rapid combustion of the finished coke. Consequently it is highl y important that the pusher ram machine be at all times in condition to perform its v-Jork, and in the event that it becomes necessary to remove the ram from the carriage of the pusher ram machine and substitute another ram the operation of interchan the rams must be effected as quickly an with as great facility as possible. frequently been the practice to employ a number of pusher machines, maintaini 1 one pusher machine, at least, in reserve in the event of a breakdown of the oth r. This, however, involves enormous or; so and may be eliminated by the provision of a means for effecting a quick removal and r placement of the ram oi' the pusher machi e.

The present invention provides a receiving and supporting station that is adapted to hold in readiness a reserve ram and which is constructed to permit a quick and ready removal of the enormously heavy and bulky ram from the pusher machine to the receiving and suppertingstation and a subsequent equally quick and easy transfer or" the reserve ram from the supporting s to the pusher machine, without the tedious and difiicult operation of removing the head or shoe of the ram to permit the shank oil the ram to he transferred to rollers or other supports of fixed height onthe platil orin oi the ram changing station. Tn practice the ram receiving and supporting station is positioned beyond a coke oven battery, preterably at one end of the latter, and en;- bodies in its construction a suitable supporting frame consisting generally of two verti cal frame sections 37, 38 formed of upright beams 39 braced by diagonal bars 40 and These two vertical framesections 37, 38inutually support a horizontal platform 2'formed of structural metal and extending parallel with the direction of movement of a ram on its can riage 21.

Mounted on the plat orm 4%, is a plurality of tracks 4:3, in the present instance tut tracks, each consisting of a pair of tie usual rails 44. These tracks 43 are supported by the frame of the ram receiving and supporting station at the end of the coke ov tery in parallelism therewith and lie with and in the path of movement a ram, the carriage of which is moved to a position in ii t of the frame of the ram receivi and supporting station. The main operatit i a ins; le 'el of each track ot the pair of trncl-zs into a short inoperative "'reclr. level 46 the letter disposed in n plane beneath the plane oi the main portion of the trucks. This owcr level 41') ot the trech -13 is supported )y e plnttorm 47 at the receiving end oit' he rem rei' eiving end sup 'iorting stetion, uid platform heing provide lwith stnirweys 13 whereby en attendant may mounttic same to gain access to the trucks.

Movable on each track i3 is s pliuslity o'l rem-supporting devices. ltsch one of these devices consists essentially of e truck or body 4L9 which forms a. hearing for e horizon tel axle or shot; 50 on wnich is mounted on tl e opposite sides oi the truclz a 29, rollers 51 runninq' on the rails i l of it track. lllnch roller truck thus constructed constitutes a niovz hle suppor for sustaining a rem on a track The n pper portion 01 the body 0t each truck provided with means for ell'ecting an interlocking engagement of the truck with the rail 2 exten line along the hottom of ram, said means being conveniently formed of e toothed segment 52 adept ed to interlock with the teeth of a reel: 27.

When. it is desired to transfer it mm from the carriage of its pusher machine to the ram receiving and supporting stntiorn the several roller trucks 4:9 of a track ere collccted together on the inoperative portion 46 ot the truck as shown on the ripht oi" The pusher om machine wing been moved to at position in front of the receiving end oi. the rum receiving and sup porting stetioin l .e ram is moved 'l'oiwvzirdly hv means oi Fig".

pushe' r; in machine over the tnilr iii-l. is the several supporting devic s or roller truclzs 41:9 have been collected together on the lower inoperative level oil? the track, the heed oi the rein and the rear shoe 29 move '11 advance oi the m n body no.

or shank 26, pass clee of the tops 0: the

several supporting devices .11.

and supporting: on. is soon as the hen l and rear shoe of the rem here passed over the supporting: device the first one of them is moved upwardly along the incline t? ot the track on to the supporting level thereof so that the tooth segment of the suppcrting device engages with adjacent teeth of the reel: 9;? of the rein and supports the siren ot' the rzun on the trecl; 4:3. The remeinins: supportiiw devices are moved no; engagement beneath the rem :it p )erly spaced intervals end by the time the ism has been mend (leer ot tie w rrinsqc ot the pusher mac .ner it is firmly supp ted on the track oi the rain rcccivinii plufiiility oiand. supporting station by e similer suppo 'th e si enlt rn I he carriage ot the pusher machine, the l'EllLlQl oi a ram to the receiving and supc ,tetion may he eilected with great speed and vith greet ecihty and case.

in transferring it ran item the receiving end supporting station to the carriage of it usher ma chine, said cerrie 'e is moved to a ceiving p ition in front of the track sn'ii-ierting the rum. The ram is then moved in the opposite direction toward the care and as the shank of the ram travels toward the carriage the supporting trucks ll) are successively rolled along down the incline on to the lower level 16 oi the truck By the time the head and rear shoe of the ram hove reached the portion 4L6 of the track, all of will have bee collected together on that portion, so the head and shoe of the re may pass freely over them without any oh- StlllttlOIl whatever. if desired, each supporting device 49 may be attached to the "2111] before being moved from the lower level 46 of the track up Y on to the main supporting level so that the movement of the ram 'ice in ii supporting position with rehe rein, For this purpose the body su ppoi"' n;i1 truck 4:9 is provided with which is inserted a hook t he 11rd 5i Secured to ier end of said hook is a rope or other i tlexihle connection 5%: which tends to ring on which is mounted a pn ii: of? hooks 56. llhe hooks 56 nmy respectively he 'nperted in holes provided on opposite sides of the shzinl' 26 ot the ram, shown in Jigs. 7 and fl. These oppositelydispos-ed he will be located at intervals along the shank of the rem end the hooks 56 of each truck e9 may he inserted in said holes as they successively come into position above the lower level oi the track. The movement of the rem will thus dn w the several supporting trucks 49 up into support- .ing engagement with the shank of the ram.

The invention ns hereinehove iorth is emhodied in a pertiz-uhir form. of construction but may he variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

l. in combination with a pusher em machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and e reciprocntory rem supported theiehv sriid rem having a reel: extending; longitudinally along it.) httom and :1 head eno shoe depeni'liug below said rock; rem receiving end. supgorting station for receiving the a encircle?- b her thronnl ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a continuous track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, and a plurality of structurally in dependent ram supporting roller trucks movable on said track and each provided with a toothed member for interlocking engagement with the rack of the pusher-ram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ment of said ram, said track having a sup-' porting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, and a plurality of structurally-independent ram-supporting roller trucks movable onsaid track and each provided with means for engaging the rack of the pusher-ram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the rack, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a rack extending longitudinally along its bottom and a head and shoe depending below said rack: a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first fromthe pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a continuous track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, a plurality of structurally-independent ramsupporting roller trucks movable on said track and each provided with a toothed member for interlocking engagement with the rack of the pusher-ram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the track, and means for attaching said trucks individually to the ram, while the trucks are positioned on the lower level, whereby the movement of the ram effects movement of the trucks on to the supporting level of the track, substantially as specified.

4-. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby. said ram having a rack extending longitudinally along its bottom and a head and shoe depending below said rack: a ram receiving and supporting station for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a continuous track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and alower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, a plurality of structurally-independen j ram-supporting roller trucks movable on said track and each provided with means for engaging the rack of thepusher-ram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the track, and means for attaching said trucks individually to the ram, while the trucks are positioned on the lower level, whereby the movement of the ram effects movement of the trucks on to the supporting level of the rack, substantially as specified.

5. in combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a rcciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head: a ram receiving and supporting station for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a continuous track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its re ceiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, and a plurality of structurally independent ram supporting roller trucks movable on said track, from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the track, substantially as specified.

v 6. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a continuous track supported thereby parallel with the diection of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, a plurality of structurally independent ram supporting roller trucks movable on said tracks, from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the track, and means for attaching said trucks individually to the ram, while the trucks are positioned on the lower level, whereby the movement of the ram effects movement of the trucks on to the supporting level of the track, substantially as specified.

T. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, and a plurality of structurally independent ram supporting roller trucks movable from an inoperative position to ram-supporting positions on said track, substantially as specified.

S. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprooatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a track supported therebyparallel with the direction of movement of said ram and having a supporting level and a lower inoperative level at its receiving end, and means movable from the inoperative level to the supporting level of the track for supporting the ram behind its head, substantially as specified.

9. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram and having a supporting level and a lower inoperative level at its receiving end, and a plurality of ram supporting devices, each movable from the moperative level to the supporting level of the track, for supporting the ram behind its head, substantially as specified.

10. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for rethe head of a ram moving on to the frame,

into an operative position behind the head of said ram for sup porting the latter behind its head, substantially as specified.

11. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a rcciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and means movable on said frame from an inoperative position, below the path of movement of the head of a ram moving on to the frame, into an operative position behind the head of said ram for supporting the latter behind its head, substantially as specified.

12. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having a depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and a plurality of ram-supporting devices movable on said frame from an inoperative position, clear of the path of movement of the head of a ram moving on to the frame, into an operative position behind the head of said ram for supporting the latter behind its head, substantially as specified.

13. in combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby, said ram having depending head; a ram receiving and supporting station positioned for receiving the ram head-first from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and a plurality of ram-supporting devices, each movable on said frame from an inoperative position, below the path of movement of the head of a ram moving on to the frame, into an operative position behind the head of said ram for supporting the latter behind its head, substantially as specified.

i i. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage and a ram supported thereby; a ram receiving and supporting station adapted to receive the ram from the pusher machine, comprising, frame, and a plurality of ramsupporting devices movable on said frame from an inoperative position clear of the path of movement of a ram moving on to the frame into an operative position beneath the ram for supporting the latter on said frame, substantially as specified.

15. In combination with a pusher-ram machine, embodying, a movable carriage, and a reciprocatory ram supported thereby:

a ram receiving and supporting station adapted to receive the ram from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and a plurality of ram-supporting levices each movable on said frainefrom an inoperative position, below the path of movement of a ram moving-on to the frame, into an engaging position beneath the ram for supporting the latter on said frame, substantially as specified.

16. A ram receiving and supporting station for receiving a ram headfirst from a pusher machine comprising in combination: a frame, a continuous traclr supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, and a plurality of structurally-independent ram-supporting roller trucks movable ons'aid track and each provided with a toothed member for interlocking engagement with the rack of the pusher-ram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head of a ram moving from its pusher machine 011 to the supporting station, tosupport the ram on the supporting level of the track, substantially as specified.

17. A ram receiving and supporting station for receiving a ram head-first from a pusher machine comprising, in combination: a frame, a continuous traclr sup orted thereby parallel with the directon of movement of said ram, said track having a supporting level and a lower level at its receiving end connected by an incline with said supporting level, and a plurality of structurally-independent ram-supporting roller trucks movable on said track, and each provided with means for engaging the rack of the pusherram, said trucks being respectively movable from the lower level of the track to the upper level thereof behind the head ofa ram moving from its pusher machine on to the supporting station, to support the ram on the supporting level of the track, substantially as specified.

18. A ram receiving and supporting station adapted toreceive a headed ram headfirst directly fromits pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a track supported thereby parallel with the direction of movement of the ram, and a plurality of structurallyindependent ram-supporting roller trucks, each movable from an inoperative position, clear of the head of the moving ram, to an operative ram-supporting position on said track, substantially as specified.

19. A ram receiving and supporting station adaptedto receive a headed ram headfirst directly from its pusher machine, com-' prising, a frame, and supporting-means, carried'by said frame, movable from an inoperative position, clear of the head of the moving ram, to an operative ram-supporting position, substantially specified.

20. A ram receiving and supporting station adapted to receive a headed ram headfirst directly from its pusher machine, comsing, a frame, and supporting-means,

carried by said frame, movable from an inoperative position, clear of the head of the moving ram, to an operative ram-supporting position behind the head of the ram, substantially as specified.

21. A ram receiving and supporting station adapted to receive a headed rain headfirst directly from its pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and supportinganeans carried by said. frame, movable from an in operative position, beneath the head of the moving am, to an operative ram-supporting position behind the head of the ram, substantially as specified.

it. ram receiving and supporting station adapted to receive a ram from its pusher machine, comprising, a frame, a traclr supported thereby parallel with the direction of m vement of the ram, and a plurality of structurally-independent ramsupporting roller trucks, each movable on said track from an inoperative position, clear of the path ofmovement of a ram moving on to said station, to an operative ram engaging and supporting position beneath said ram, substantially as specified.

28. lhe combination with a coke-oven battery, of a carriage movable lengthwise thereof, and a reciprocatory ram supported by said carriage and movable crosswise with respect to said battery, and a ram receiving and supporting station positioned beyond the coke-oven battery for receiving the rain from the pusher machine, comprising, a ine,'and a plurality of ramsupporting devices movable on said frame from aninoperative position, clear of the path of movement of a ram moving on to the frame into an operative position beneath said ram for supporting the latter on said frame, substantially as specified.

The combination with a COliZE-OVGH battery, of a carriage movable lengthwise thereof, and a reciprocatory ram supported by said carriage and movable crosswise with respect to the battery, and ram receiving and supporting station positioned beyond the coke-oven battery for receiving the ram from the pusher machine, comprising, a frame, and a plurality of ram-supporting devices each movable on said frame from an inoperative pos' ion, below the path of movement of a ram moving on to the frame, into an operative position beneath said ram for supporting the latter on said frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM LAMAR WILLIAMS, JR. 

